Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Journey Home ❯ Force Of Habit ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or the characters. Oh, to be Natsuki Takaya for a day!

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You've really helped motivate me. :-) Sorry if this chapter isn't up to my usual standard with grammar and all, I'm tired. Special thanks, as always, to my dear friend YTR.

Warning: There may be OOC moments (I'm told I'm doing good with the characters, yay!) so if that bothers you, this might not be the story for you. (Hey, this is fiction, it's my world and I can do what I want with it!) Also, if premarital sex and/or unwed pregnancy bother you, this probably isn't the story for you.

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"The Journey Home"

Chapter 13: Force Of Habit

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Kagura entered the kitchen with a flourish almost worthy of Ayame and stopped mid-attack when she saw that Kyo wasn't alone. She paused for a moment, a strange expression coming over her face. She looked from Kyo to Tohru and back again, noting Kyo's worried expression (as if he was about to meet up with the hangman's noose). She continued to look at Tohru, taking in every detail from head to toe. Then, suddenly, she smiled and said "Well, well, it's about time you two came to your senses. Damn and my money was on 2010, looks like Momiji won the pot."

There was an almost audible thud as Kyo's jaw hit the floor. "Wha - wha..." he stammered while Tohru blushed and said "Kagura, what a happy surprise, it's been too long! Have you eaten? Won't you join us for dinner? It's just some soup, nothing special, but I'd love for you to stay."

"I would love to, if it's your soup it must be delicious and it has been too long. But I don't want to intrude, it looks like your Kyo would rather have you to himself," Kagura said with a chuckle causing Tohru to blush a deeper hue.

"Just what are you implying... and are you feeling ok?" Kyo asked.

Kagura looked pointedly from Tohru's dress to Kyo's mismatched clothes. He never wore his karate pants except when training or teaching. The fact that he was wearing them now, with a plain black t-shirt, showed that he had either been preoccupied or hurried when he'd gotten dressed. Kagura guessed the former.

"I'm perfectly fine, Kyo... just what have you two been up to?" she countered.

Kyo blushed a brighter red than Kagura had ever seen on him then took her by the arm and led her out of the kitchen, calling behind "Excuse us, we'll be right back."

The second they reached the living room Kyo said harshly, "Alright, out with it and if you're going to hit me, then hit me."

"Out with what? Why would I hit you, I love you." Kagura said innocently, knowing full well what he meant.

"You are infuriating! I don't understand you. You're constantly chasing after me, telling me of your undying love. Now you find me here with Tohru and say 'it's about time'... whatever you really want to say, Tohru's not here, so just say it."

"Kyo," Kagura said and touched his cheek. "Remember that night, in the rain, when Kazuma took your bracelet?"

"I will never forget it."

"I realized then, when she could do the one thing I couldn't, that though I love you with all my heart, I am not the one for you. I cannot make you happy, but she can. And I have fallen in love with someone else."

Kyo gawked at her. "Who? Why have you still chased after me for all these years?"

"Call it force of habit," Kagura said and smiled, pulling him back to the kitchen and ignoring his other question.

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During the meal, Kagura watched the interaction between Kyo and Tohru. Outwardly it was the same as always, yet there was something different between them. Kyo still teased, but there was a softness that hadn't been there before. Tohru still apologized, but there was an added strength. Kagura smiled, glad that Kyo finally seemed happy.

When she'd heard from Meiko that Kyo was depressed and had been left at the dojo alone, she had immediately come over, hoping to at least take his mind off it. It was a relief to find Tohru here, to find him doing well. Although Kagura was no longer in love with Kyo, he would always be her first love, always hold a special place in her heart. As such, it wasn't entirely painless to see him with Tohru, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle and she would get over it. Her lover would certainly help with that. She smiled, planning to pay him a visit tonight.

Kagura noted something else while they ate. Tohru seemed to be eating a lot and she looked... heftier, more substantial, though not heavy, exactly. After dinner, Kagura told Kyo to go relax while she and Tohru took care of the dishes. It was an excuse to talk to Tohru alone. First, Kagura took the opportunity to study her. Something was definitely different.

When she realized what it was, Kagura stopped drying the bowl she held and said "Does Kyo know?"

"No, I started to tell him but...." Tohru wasn't surprised that Kagura had figured it out. She had, in fact, expected it.

"He is the father, isn't he?" Kagura whispered, not wanting Kyo to hear in the next room.

"Of course," Tohru replied, not offended.

"Just wanted to double-check, several Sohmas are of the opinion that you're in love with Yuki. What about Yuki? I know he used to have a crush on you."

Tohru smiled a little. "He's with my friend Hana."

"Really? Good. Kyo has you, Yuki has Hana, Haru and Rin are together again... I'm sure Kisa and Hiro will be when they get a little older... so that just leaves Ritsu and Momiji unattached. Well, there is the Trio, but I think they just need each other." Kagura said with a laugh that did not reach her eyes.

"What about you, Kagura?" Tohru asked.

"Oh, I'm fine. That dress hides it perfectly. It looks very nice on you, and I've never seen one like it." Kagura said as she dried the last dish.

Tohru looked down at the black dress with small white flowers that Aya had designed for her. "Thank you, Ayame made it for me."

"Aya knows?" Kagura asked, surprised. Tohru had told Ayame, but hadn't told Kyo?

"Hai... he found out."

"Who else knows?"

"Hana, Uo, Shigure, Hatori, and Yuki... I hadn't planned to tell them all, it just happened...."

"Why didn't you tell Kyo first?" Kagura asked, a little upset that seven people should know before he did.

"I was afraid to tell him, but I'm here now." Tohru admitted.

"I can understand that," Kagura said with a knowing look in her eyes. Then she hugged Tohru, "I'm sure the baby will be beautiful and you'll be an excellent mother. Tell him soon, okay?"

Tohru was about to agree when Kyo's voice came from the doorway "Tell who what?"

Tohru looked a little panicked so Kagura rescued her saying "It's nothing, don't worry about it. Thanks for dinner, Tohru. I'm going to go now, you two have fun." She said with a wink.

A few moments later she came back to the kitchen with her coat on and a mischievous expression on her face. "Kyo, my darling, I better get a wedding invitation soon or I'll have to get mad," she said, causing both Kyo and Tohru to turn bright red.

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Kyo and Tohru sat in the living room, both unsure how to act or what to say. Tohru took his hand, threading his fingers through her own. "Kyo, I..." she began, but couldn't say the words so bluntly. 'I almost told him earlier, why am I such a chicken now?' she wondered. Maybe it was hormones, the surprise of Kagura's visit, the quiet emptiness of the house around them... or maybe she just wanted the right time to tell him. But would it ever come?

Kyo kept thinking back to Kagura's last comments. 'Have fun'... 'wedding'... he couldn't just ask Tohru to marry him out of the blue, sitting here on Kazuma's couch. She deserved better than that. Kyo had never truly admitted to himself before that he wanted to marry her. He realized now that he did, that he had since she'd kissed him... no, since before that. He smiled to himself. Since that time on the roof, when she'd brought him onigiri and sat with him until the sun came up. He loved her so much it hurt.

He looked over at Tohru. She looked uncertain, what was she thinking about? He leaned forward and kissed her temple. When she turned her head, he captured her lips. "Stay with me?" He asked softly as he pulled away.

"I can't, I have work tomorrow," Tohru answered. At Kyo's sad look, and because she didn't want to leave his side, she added "You could come to the apartment with me."

"What about Hana?" Kyo asked, worried what electric-girl would do to him if she found out what he'd done to Tohru... the things he still wanted to do to Tohru.

"She won't mind, Yuki's stayed over a few times."

"What? Yuki?"

"Yes, Hana and Yuki are together."

'Yuki and electric-girl? I never knew he was so kinky,' Kyo thought and then something struck him. Maybe that was Hana in the window? He shrugged inwardly. It didn't matter. It wasn't Tohru and beyond that, Kyo didn't care what, or who, Yuki did.

"Well, then, if you're sure it's ok..." Kyo said.

Tohru smiled. "Good. Hurry up and get ready, I'm feeling a little tired. Oh, and can we stop for some ice cream on the way?"

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'Why am I so nervous?' Kyo asked himself while he brushed his teeth at Tohru's apartment. She was in the kitchen eating her ice cream and Hana had left a note saying she'd gone to dinner and wouldn't be back until late. 'I've been alone with Tohru before....' This was different, though. They'd made love and shared a bed earlier, but it hadn't been like this. This was... intended.

He wanted nothing more than to touch Tohru, to hear her moan his name... again, and again, and again... but they both fell asleep, cuddled as much as possible, the minute they laid down. They each felt safe and slept through the night for the first time in months.

The next chapter will be up ASAP! (I know Kagura didn't mention Kureno with the rest of the zodiac, I'm trying to keep this story anime-based as much as possible and since I think he's rather... solitary, I don't know that he would be mentioned much. I couldn't resist mentioning Haru and Rin, though.)

I like the way one author put it, I hope s/he doesn't mind if I quote "if you've come this far you've obviously read, so please review". I will add, though, please be kind since this is my first fan fiction and I'm very sensitive. Bad reviews... "I just don't think I can take that kind of rejection!" (Toy Story... never mind, I'm crazy.) Please let me know of any glaring errors that me or my Master have missed and I'll fix 'em. ;-)